USC-Ohio State … College Preview 9/12

Going down at the horseshoe in Columbus on Saturday is the top college game of the early 2009 season, as Pete Carroll takes his Southern Cal Trojans to play The Ohio State (7 p.m. CDT on ESPN.)

When two programs face off there are pro prospects at almost every position group. USC lost quite a few starters from last year to the NFL, but Carroll’s cupboard is not bare in any manner. With the Buckeyes, head coach Jim Tressel continues to be able to recruit and develop quality talent that pro teams seek.

Here’s a look at the top senior prospects in this game, based on conversations with NFL scouts.

SOUTHERN CAL

FS Taylor Mays (#2) – 63, 230 pounds, SR: He’s considered one of the top talents available in the 2010 NFL Draft, as he has the complete package of size, speed and explosion. Mays is following in the Trojans tradition of big time safeties like Ronnie Lott, Mark Carrier, Dennis Smith and Troy Polamalu. One spot where Mays must improve is catching the ball; in 40 career games he has intercepted just four passes. He reportedly has been clocked under 4.3 seconds over 40 yards; that’s impressive at 230 pounds. Mays moved into the starting lineup as a true freshman because of injury and he’s been there since, with 180 tackles. If he had come out last season, Mays would have been a first-round selection. This year, he should go in the top five. 

OT/TE Charles Brown (#71) – 6-6, 295 pounds, SR-Redshirt: Scouts use the term upside a lot, and that’s heard when they talk about this big man on the left side of the Trojans offensive line. Brown arrived on campus as a tight end but in his redshirt season in ‘05, he was moved to tackle. Over the next two seasons he was the backup left tackle for 21 games and got one start at right tackle. In ‘08, he stepped in and started every game at left tackle. He’s very athletic, with good feet and good quickness getting to the second level. Brown is not especially strong and relies too much on finesse. His long arms make him a potentially great pass protector. Weight room work and coaching are needed, but the NFL sees him as an early second-round talent.

TE Anthony McCoy (#86) – 6-5, 252 pounds, SR: As a receiver, McCoy hasn’t been used much by the Trojans, but he’s an under-rated blocker for the USC running game. Last season, McCoy caught 22 passes for 256 yards and one TD. He has soft hands, good body control to pull in passes and seems to be able to get open, although he doesn’t explode off the line of scrimmage. Some scouts have even called him lumbering. Was the starter last year and remains there this year. McCoy is considered third/fourth-round material.

RB Stafon Johnson (#13) – 5-11, 215 pounds, SR: Not real big, but he’s explosive and has good enough hands that Johnson has returned punts. He was one of the most honored schoolboy running backs in Los Angeles history when he came out of Dorsey High School in Compton. As a freshman at SC in ‘06, he played briefly in three games. As a sophomore in ‘07, Johnson was an often-used second-team back, while battling foot and shoulder injuries. Last year, he was part of a rotation at running back, and finished as the team’s leading rusher with 705 yards on 138 carries. Johnson was also the team’s punt returner in ‘08. He has 1,395 career yards o n 239 carries and 14 rushing TDs. Most pro scouts see him as an early fourth-round talent.

FS Josh Pinkard (#36)– 6-2, 210 pounds, SR-Redshirt: Last season, he played in 12 games, the last 11 at cornerback. Pinkard had 39 tackles and an interception in his return to action. He opened the ‘06 season as the starting free safety, but tore ligaments in his right knee in the opener against Arkansas and ended up taking a red-shirt season. Then in camp before the ‘07 season, Pinkard tore ligaments in his left knee and was done for the year. As a sophomore in ‘05, Pinkard played in all 13 games at both safety and cornerback. He had 54 tackles and 2 INTs. NFL teams see him now as a potential fourth-round choice.

OHIO STATE

DE Lawrence Wilson (#87) – 6-4, 274 pounds, SR-Redshirt: If Wilson can get through his senior season without injury, the young man could hear his name called early in the 2010 NFL Draft. He’s got good size, good strength and good quickness and is a few pounds away from being a good prospect for DE in the 3-4 defense. As a freshman, he played in all but one game during the ‘05 season and came back and played in 12 games with 17 tackles and three sacks in the ‘06 campaign. In the next season’s opening game, he suffered a fracture of his right leg and missed the rest of the season. He came back in ‘08 and played seven games before suffering a torn ACL in his left knee against Purdue. Right now, Wilson is viewed as a late third/early fourth-round prospect, but a strong and healthy senior season could elevate him on a lot of draft boards.

FS Anderson Russell (#21) – 6-0, 205 pounds, SR-Redshirt: A rangy free safety that isn’t afraid to deliver a blow if he’s playing in the box. The end of Russell’s 2008 season was not a good one, as he missed stopping a TD by Texas receiver Quan Cosby that was the winning score in the Fiesta Bowl. Then last weekend, the Buckeyes began the ‘09 season against Navy, and it was Russell who gave up a pair of TD passes. This week, it appears that Russell may have lost his starting job. He started his Ohio State career with a redshirt season in ‘05, and early the next season he moved into the starting lineup at free safety. But five games into the schedule he suffered a knee injury that ended his season. Russell returned in ‘07 with a big season, finishing with 63 total tackles and three sacks. He’s viewed as a late third/early fourth-round pick.

OT Jim Cordle (#64) – 6-4, 298 pounds, SR-Redshirt: Remember this guy, because he’s one of those players that Scott Pioli likes because he’s smart and versatile. Cordle has played center, guard and tackle for the Buckeyes. He arrived on campus as a center, and took a redshirt-season in ‘05 when he broke his foot during pre-season camp. In the ‘06 season, he was the No. 2 center and played I n six games. The next year, he was a starter and played much of the season with his right hand in a cast because of a wrist fracture; he had to learn how to snap with his left hand. Cordle started the ‘08 season at center, but moved to left guard when injuries caused a hole in the protection unit. This season, he’s playing tackle. Cordle is viewed as a late fourth/early fifth-round selection.

DE Doug Worthington (#84) – 6-5, 276 pounds, SR-Redshirt: Last season, Worthington had 34 total tackles in ‘08 as a rotating starter on defensive line; he’s played both inside and outside during his time in Columbus. He started 11 games in ‘07 with 24 tackles. He played in seven games during the ‘06 season and had three tackles. Worthington is considered a fifth/sixth-round prospect.